Diet supplemented either with dried chicory root or chicory inulin significantly influence kidney and liver mineral content and antioxidative capacity in growing pigs

According to the Regulation No. 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and European Union Council, the use of antibiotics as a dietary supplements has been prohibited. It seems that the administration of prebiotics, instead of antibiotics, into the pig's diet, may regulate the intestinal microbiota and has a long-term health-related impact on the host. Inulin-type fructans can stimulate mineral absorption from the gut. Additionally, it may regulate energy metabolism and activate enzymatic mechanisms preventing oxidative stress. The goal of the present study was to estimate the influence of dietary supplementation with dried chicory root or native chicory inulin on 1) liver histology; 2) liver and kidney lipid metabolism indices, activity of selected enzymes, concentration of macro- and micronutrients and heavy metals; 3) blood plasma, liver and kidney oxidative stress biomarkers and 4) blood plasma water-electrolyte homeostasis indices in growing pigs. The nutritional study was conducted on 24 piglets assigned to 3 dietary groups (n = 8): control (C) fed a basal diet and two experimental groups receiving basal diet supplemented with 2% of inulin (IN) either 4% of dried chicory root (CR). The animals were fed with a group-specific diets for 40 days and then subjected to euthanasia. Subsequently, blood, liver and kidney samples were harvested for further processing. In the control and experimental groups, no apparent morphological abnormalities in the liver tissues were seen. The percent of periodic acid Schiff positive glycogen liver cells was significantly lower in the CR group as compared to C and IN groups (P < 0.001). Chicory root supplementation improved blood plasma prooxidative-antioxidative balance - PAB (P < 0.001) and liver PAB (P < 0.01) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances - thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (P < 0.05). Feeding the CR diet increased calcium (P < 0.001) and potassium (P < 0.05) and decreased cadmium (P ≥ 0.05) content in the liver when compared to the C group. Administration of the CR and IN diets increased selenium (Se) and sodium concentrations, whereas decreased zinc content both in the liver (P < 0.01; P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively) and in the kidney (P < 0.01; P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) of pigs. Additionally, a higher concentration of lead (P < 0.05) was observed in the kidney of pigs fed the CR diet. In conclusion, both dietary supplements had a potential to significantly improve the Se status and oxidoreductive homeostasis in growing pigs.

Environmental factors driving the occurrence of the invasive cyanobacterium Sphaerospermopsis aphanizomenoides (Nostocales) in temperate lakes

Cyanobacterial blooms are an increasing threat worldwide. Invasions of certain cyanobacterial species, mainly towards higher latitudes, add to this concern as they enrich the pool of potential bloom-formers in the invaded region. Among the numerous causes of this escalating process, climate warming is commonly considered the most crucial factor, but empirical studies of this issue are lacking. The aim of our study was to identify physical, chemical and biological factors related to the occurrence of an invasive cyanobacterium at the northern border of its putative current range, and thus enabling its expansion. This study focuses on the relatively little studied species Sphaerospermopsis aphanizomenoides (Nostocales, Cyanobacteria; synonyms: Aphanizomenon aphanizomenoides, Anabaena aphanizomenoides), which is predicted to become one of the main nuisance species of the future. Forty-nine freshwater lakes located between latitudes 51° and 55°N were examined for the presence of S. aphanizomenoides, and environmental factors that could drive its occurrence were studied simultaneously. To identify factors correlated with the presence of the species, principal component analysis (PCA) and Mann-Whitney U test were performed. Water temperature did not differentiate lakes with or without S. aphanizomenoides, however the study was conducted in a particularly hot summer. Total phosphorus concentration was identified as the primary driving factor of the occurrence of S. aphanizomenoides. The species grew in poor light conditions and high phytoplankton biomass, mainly in shallow lakes. As shown by detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), the species accompanied shade tolerant, eutrophic species of native and invasive cyanobacteria as well as eukaryotic algae. Our results indicate that eutrophication may be the primary factor enabling the increasing occurrence of S. aphanizomenoides in temperate environments, and suggest that this process may stimulate expansion of cyanobacterial species towards high latitudes.

Cell and region specificity of Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) system in the testis and the epididymis

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays multiple important functions in adaptive responses. Exposure to AhR ligands may produce an altered metabolic activity controlled by the AhR pathways, and consequently affect drug/toxin responses, hormonal status and cellular homeostasis. This research revealed species-, cell- and region-specific pattern of the AhR system expression in the rat and human testis and epididymis, complementing the existing knowledge, especially within the epididymal segments. The study showed that AhR level in the rat and human epididymis is higher than in the testis. The downregulation of AhR expression after TCDD treatment was revealed in the spermatogenic cells at different stages and the epididymal epithelial cells, but not in the Sertoli and Leydig cells. Hence, this basic research provides information about the AhR function in the testis and epididymis, which may provide an insight into deleterious effects of drugs, hormones and environmental pollutants on male fertility.

The influence of antineoplastic chemotherapy on the glutathione enzymes activity in the blood

The analysis included 78 patients (42 men and 36 women) aged 48 to 67 years treated with cytostatics because of a neoplastic disease. In all the patients examined was evaluated the influence of the chemotherapy carried out on the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities. It was confirmed that the effect of the action on the glutathione enzymes (GE) activity of the antineoplastic chemotherapy changes depending on the duration of the treatment with cytostatics. In the end this activity settles at a high level, statistically significantly higher than that registered before the beginning of the antineoplastic treatment. The increase of the GE activity is mainly favoured by the chemotherapy following the schemes FAC (5-fluorouracyl + doxorubicin + endoxan) and PAC (cisplatin + cyclofosfamide + pharmorubicin).

Changes of the total antioxidative status of blood cells in the progression of stomach and large bowel cancers in patients subjected to primary radical treatment

The analysis included 53 patients (32 men and 21 women) aged 43 to 66 years, who were subjected to radical treatment (surgical or combined) because of stomach (22 patients) or large bowel (31 patients) cancer. All the patients were included in the same model of control examinations, which considered evaluation of the erythrocytes TAS and of the Ca19-9, CEA and AFP concentrations in serum. It was confirmed that in all the patients in whom the recurrence and/or the dissemination occurred of the cancer, the average erythrocytes TAS value increased 5.5 times by comparison with the period before progression and 7 times in comparison with the patients without recurrence and/or dissemination of the cancer. Moreover it was shown that statistically significantly higher TAS values were associated with the progression of the large bowel cancer in comparison with the stomach cancer and that the blood cells TAS positively correlated with the changes of the Ca19-9, CEA and AFP concentrations in patients with progression of the cancer after radical treatment.

[Evaluation of treatment and preventive care for recurrent urolithiasis in children]

Among 425 children with urolithiasis treated in the Paediatric Clinical Department of the National Research Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw between 1976-1997, 50 of them i.e. 11.7% (26 boys and 24 girls) had recurrent urolithiasis. Patients' age was from 10 months to 16 years and 5 months. The number of recurrences of uroliothiasis before treatment in the Institute was from 1 to 8. Most of the children had numerous surgical operations, some of them excreted stones spontaneously. The etiology was determined in all cases. A metabolic cause of urolithiasis was found in 34 cases, i.e. 68% of the analysed group. They were as follows: idiopathic hypercalcuria--24 cases, uric acid urolithiasis--5 cases, cystynuria--4 cases, and incomplete distal renal tubular acidosis--1 case. Other reasons for urolithiasis were: infection--7 cases, idiopathic urolithiasis--8 cases, ren spongiosum--1 case. Prevention of recurrences depending on the etiology was successful. In 45 cases no recurrences were found. Recurrent urolithiasis was observed in 4 cases of cystynuria and in one case of incomplete tubular acidosis. The observation period was from 3-19 years.

Effect of butobendin on dopamine beta-hydroxylase in vitro

It has been found that dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) (E.C.1.14.17.1), a key enzyme in the multistep process of adrenaline formation, isolated from blood serum by fractionated salting out procedure, is an allosteric enzyme with a sigmoidal kinetics and positive cooperativity in binding of the substrate and effectors. Butobendin, a double ester of 2-aminobutanol and trimethoxybenzoic acid, a new interesting compound showing various pharmacological and metabolic properties, inhibits DBH activity stereospecifically, only in the configuration 2S,2'S, decreasing DBH Vmax. This noncompetitive inhibitory effect of butobendin was stronger than the feed-back DBH inhibition by adrenaline and noradrenaline or by quinidine used as a standard antiarrhythmic compound. At high butobendin concentration (1.55 microM) the DBH activity was stabilized at about 50% of initial activity. This indicates that tetrameric enzyme binds substrate to half-of-its-binding-sites. At low substrate (tyramine) concentration (1-5 mM), a sigmoidal kinetics was preserved only at low butobendin concentration (0.155-0.31 microM). At higher butobendin concentrations (0.77 microM) a linear kinetics of DBH appeared and Km value decreased, indicating an increase in affinity of enzyme to the substrate. Interesting regulatory properties of DBH and butobendin action deserve further attention, especially for understanding a therapeutic action of butobendin in some types of heart rhythm disturbances.

[Evaluation of carbohydrate metabolism in women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus]

70 women with previous (1983-1993) history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were examined in order to assess their present carbohydrate metabolism. The through examination together with oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) according to WHO were performed. Also the level of glycosylated hemoglobin HbA1c was measured. The following risk factors were analysed: obesity; arterial hypertension; family history of diabetes; number of past pregnancies; time that passed since the pregnancy with GDM; trimester in which GDM was diagnosed. In result 54% of all subjects were diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus, 19% had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). The presence of diabetes or IGT significantly correlated with the number of past pregnancies, observation time and indirectly with family history of diabetes. Using both measurements of fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin enables to diagnose nearly 80% of diabetes following GDM and as a diagnostic method is worth recommending for screening. Women who had GDM should be subjected to control examinations towards diabetes mellitus at least once a year.

The effect of buthobendin on human erythrocyte membrane ATPases

The effect of buthobendin (CravitenR) on the ATPase activities/total (Na, K, Mg)-ATPase, and the ouabaine-sensitive (Na, K-ATPase) and insensitive (Mg-ATPase) fractions/from human erythrocyte membrane was examined in the presence or absence of liposomes. The activities of both ATPase fractions increased by 250% in the presence of 10 mmol/l phosphatidylcholine. Buthobendin inhibited both ATPases, but especially Na, K-ATPase. This inhibitory effect was much greater in the hydrophobic milieu of liposomes. The inhibitory effect was proportional to the drug concentration and was stereospecifically related only to the 2S, 2'S isomer. Isomer 2R, 2'R and epinephrine used for comparison did not show any similar inhibitory influence. The decrease in ouabaine-sensitive ATPase activity under the influence of buthobendin might cause changes in cation distribution and cell membrane polarization. An inhibitory effect was also observed in vivo, after single iv administration of buthobendin to patients with ventricular arrhythmias and elevated activities of both erythrocyte membrane ATPases. Complete normalization of cardiac rhythm in about 30% of patients was accompanied - in the sensitive group of patients - with a decrease in Mg-ATPase activity without any changes in elevated Na, K-ATPase activity. In the group of patients resistant to buthobendin therapy both ATPases remained unchanged.

Synthesis and pharmacological properties of the products of condensation of tryptamine derivatives with pyridoxal

Four new derivatives of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline 2a--d were synthetized with the pyridoxal moiety in position 1; there were also obtained four Schiff bases 1a--d which are intermediate products in this synthesis. Schiff bases 1a--d revealed a sedative and analgesic action, and compound 1b also had potential antidepressive properties. The derivatives of tetrahydro-beta-carboline 2a--d were inactive in the carried out tests.

Pharmacological evidence for a stimulation of dopamine neurons by noradrenaline neurons in the brain

The effects of yohimbine (3 mg/kg i.p.), phenoxybenzamine (20 mg/kg i.p.) and clonidine (0.1 mg/kg i.p.) on the synthesis and the utilization of dopamine and noradrenaline in the central nervous system of rats were investigated. Dopa accumulation following decarboxylase inhibition and the alpha-methyltyrosine-induced disappearance of the amines were used as the measure of these effects. The synthesis and the utilization of dopamine and noradrenaline were accelerated by yohimbine. Clonidine plus phenoxybenzamine inhibited the synthesis and utilization of dopamine and the combination also partly antagonized the effects of yohimbine on the trunover of dopamine. The effects of the three drugs on the synthesis and utilization of dopamine might be secondary to their actions on alpha-adrenoreceptors of noradrenaline synapses since, at the doses used, yohimbine increases the release of noradrenaline, phenoxybenzamine blocks postsynapptic noradrenaline receptors and clonidine reduces the release of noradrenaline. This hypothesis is supported by the findings that yohimbine and phenoxybenzamine did not change the increased synthesis of dopamine in reserpine-treated rats and that clonidine did not inhibit the increased synthesis of dopamine after axotomy or treatment with reserpine.

[Detection of defects in components of antigen I and its significance in transfusiology]

The authors present the results of family investigations carried out in a healthy man whose serum contained anti-IDBH alloantibodies. In the erythrocytes of the propositus and one of his brothers defects in ID and IS components were found. At the same time increased expression of IT component was observed in both these men and in their brother. In the erythrocytes of the remaining family members no abnormalities in the components of I complex was found. The authors stress the importance of detection of these defects in the practice of transfusiology in patients with autoimmunohaemolytic anaemia.

The involvement of serotonin in the mechanism of central action of apomorphine

The paper reviews and summarizes the results obtained in a series of experimental papers on the action of apomorphine on central serotonin mechanisms. Apomorphine accelerates utilization of serotonin in the central nervous system, this effect being a consequence of stimulation of central dopamine receptors. The activation of serotonergic mechanisms may be responsible for the hypothermizing action of apomorphine in rats and mice, pi modulates the locomotor stimulation produced by apomorphine in the rat, and does not influence the apomorphine-induced stereotypy in the rat.

Apomorphine in the rat nucleus accumbens: effects on the synthesis of 5-hydroxytryptamine and noradrenaline, the motor activity and the body temperature

Apomorphine (10 mug) was injected bilaterally into the nucleus accumbens or the neostriatum of rats. The application of apomorphine to the nucleus accumbens, but not to the neostriatum, enhanced the accumulation of 5-hydroxytryptophan in the central nervous system following inhibition of the aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. The effect was greatest in the brain stem particularly in the pons plus medulla oblongata. Similar but smaller rises were observed for the accumulation of DOPA in noradrenalinerich regions. The motor activity was increased and the body temperature was decreased by apomorphine in the nucleus accumbens, whereas smaller or no effects were obtained from the neostriatum.

Noradrenaline synthesis and utilization: control by nerve impulse flow under normal conditions and after treatment with alpha-adrenoreceptor blocking agents

The changes in the synthesis and utilization or noradrenaline cranial and caudal to an acute section of the rat spinal cord have been used to investigate the importance of nerve impulses for these processes. 1. Cranial to a lesion of the spinal cord, the alpha-methyltyrosine-induced disappearance of noradrenaline was accelerated by the alpha-adrenoreceptor blocking agents yohimbine (10 mg/kg), piperoxan (60 mg/kg) and tolazoline (50 mg/kg). In the absence of nerve impulses caudal to a lesion of the spinal cord, this disappearance was decelerated as compared to that cranial to the lesion and it was not influenced by the three alpha-adrenoreceptor blocking agents. 2. The nialamide-induced accumulation of normetanephrine in the whole brain was increased by phenoxybenzamine (20 mg/kg) and yohimbine whereas it was decreased by the alpha-adrenoreceptor stimulating agent clonidine (0.1 mg/kg). The effect of clonidine was completely antagonized by yohimbine, but not by phenoxybenzamine, giving further evidence for the view that clonidine and yohimbine have a stronger effect than phenoxybenzamine on the alpha-adrenoreceptors regulating the release of noradrenaline induced by nerve impluses. 3. The accumulation of Dopa after decarboxylase inhibition cranial to a lesion of the spinal cord was accelerated by yohimbine, piperoxan and tolazoline, but not significantly affected by phenoxybenzamine and haloperidol (10 mg/kg). In the absence of nerve impulses caudal to a lesion of the spinal cord, the popa accumulation was decelerated as compared to that cranial to the lesion and it was not influenced by the former three alpha--adrenoreceptor blocking agents as well as by clonidine. 4. The results show that the synthesis and the utilization noradrenaline normally, as well as the accelerations of these processes by alpha-adrenoreceptor blocking agents, are dependent on nerve impulses. The stimulation of the synthesis and utilization of noradrenaline by nerve impulses might by influenced via the activity of teh alpha-adrenoreceptors located either on the nerve terminals or on the cell bodies or on both parts of the noradrenergic neurones. In the absence of nerve impulses, a receptor-mediated feedback mechanism similar to that described for the synthesis of dopamine does not appear to regulate the synthesis of noradrenaline.

Different alpha-adrenoreceptors in the central nervous system mediating biochemical and functional effects of clonidine and receptor blocking agents

The influence of clonidine on alpha-adrenoreceptors in the central nervous system of rats and mice has been investigated. Both functional events due to postsynaptic receptor stimulation (flexor reflex activity, motor activity) and biochemical changes have been considered. 1. Clonidine was less potent in stimulating the hindlimb flexor reflex activity of spinal rats than in inhibiting the alpha-methyltyrosine-induced disappearance of noradrenaline in the spinal cord and in the whole brain of rats. 2. The increase in flexor reflex activity due to clonidine (0.4 mg/kg) was virtually completely inhibited by phenoxybenzamine (20 mg/kg) and haloperidol (10 mg/kg), was partially inhibited by yohimbine (10 mg/kg) and piperoxan (60 mg/kg) and was not significantly inhibited by yohimbine (3 mg/kg) and tolazoline (50 mg/kg). 3. The potentiation by clonidine of the apomorphine-induced locomotor stimulation of reserpine-treated mice was almost completely inhibited by phenoxybenzamine (20 mg/kg) but was not significantly affected by yohimbine (10 or 3 mg/kg) and only slightly inhibited by tolazoline (50 mg/kg). 4. Clonidine (0.1 mg/kg) caused a considerable inhibition of the alpha-methyltyrosine-induced disappearance of noradrenaline in the spinal cord and brain or rats and in the brain of mice. This effect of clonidine was completely antagonized by yohimbine (10 mg/kg). It was markedly antagonized by yohimbine (3 mg/kg), piperoxan (60 mg/kg) or tolazoline (50 mg/kg) but not by phenoxybenzamine (20 mg/kg) or haloperidol (10 mg/kg). 5. Clonidine (0.1 mg/kg) caused an inhibition of the accumulation of Dopa after decarboxylase inhibition in the noradrenaline-rich regions of the rat central nervous system. This effect was counteracted by yohimbine (10 mg/kg), piperoxan (60 mg/kg) or tolazoline (50 mg/kg) but not by phenoxybenzamine (20 mg/kg). 6. The postsynaptic functional effects and the biochemical effects of clonidine may be due to stimulation of different alpha-adrenoreceptors since the two effects were inhibited differently by various alpha-adrenoreceptor blocking agents and since the two effects were produced by different doses of clonidine. The alpha-adrenoreceptors mediating the biochemical changes might be located on the noradrenergic neurones.

Influence of apomorphine on brain serotonin turnover rate

Apomorphine (5.0 mg/kg) accelerated the disappearance of 5-HIAA from the brain of pargylinepretreated rats as well as depletion of brain 5-HT caused by inhibition of its synthesis. The latter effect has been abolished by spiroperidol. The results obtained suggest that apomorphine increases the 5-HT turnover rate, secondary to the stimulation of central dopamine receptors.